Page 67 of The Billionaire's Second Chance
I closed my eyes, tipping my head back, dabbing under my lashline with my knuckles. No, there wouldn’t be any more men for me. My laugh sounded wet.
Ava slapped her hands down on her thighs, businesslike. “Right?” I nodded. “I’ll get you some lunch, okay? And a cookie, hm?” I nodded again.
“Ava,” I called after her, and she paused in the doorway. Office pleasantries: that was the extent of our relationship, and yet here she was, getting me a cookie and sitting with me as I cried. How long had Ava worked for the agency? I wasn’t sure. Almost as long as me, and I’d never spoken to her. I’d shut myself off. “Thank you. Really. I appreciate it.”
Her lips pressed together in a tight smile.
“Of course, Samantha.”
CHAPTER31
Charlie
I almost didn’t goto the Bankworth.
I was distracted during my computer club, my phone heavy in my back pocket, waiting for a text or a call I hoped would come. Every minute it didn’t, the uneasy feeling behind my solar plexus grew. By the time class was over, I had decided to go if only to settle my stomach by swallowing down a drink in company. I didn’t want to be alone in my apartment.
I regretted my choice almost immediately after the rest of the Friday night Bankworth crew trickled in, first Ryan, then James, then Barrett, off work early for once. Then, inevitably, Sebastian. I was halfway through my second old fashioned, twirling the cherry around on the toothpick, when he arrived.
“Congratulations, Sebastian,” James announced in an irritatingly chummy voice as Sebastian stalked over to our shared table. “I heard from Sam.”
Seb chuckled. “Agent of the Year.”
“Congratulations to Samantha, for getting what she wanted. Not that there was ever any question,” Barrett smirked. He too had turned to Sebastian, who inclined his head modestly as if it were him accepting the award. “Will you be at the banquet tomorrow, James?” Sebastian asked, and when James nodded, he added, “I’ll see you there.” I clenched my teeth tighter, my hand gripping my cocktail glass so hard I thought it might break.
Samantha must have asked him to be her plus one after our fight.
She’d want him to see her accomplishment. To acknowledge her. Toseeher. To prove to him that she had become something, something beyond the rigid confines of the life he’d imagined for her.
Igotit. I did.
That didn’t mean I didn’t hate it. If I were honest with myself, it only meant I hated it even more.
“I like to think I had a little bit to do with it,” James said.
“Don’t let Sam hear you say that,” I glowered. “Taking credit for her hard work. If anyone deserves to share her accolades, it would be Edie. All you did was fuck your student.”
His eyebrows rose up into his hairline, but there was a smile playing around his lips. “That’s the mother of my child you’re talking about like that, Charlie,” he said. “More importantly though… sticking up for Sam Scott?” He grinned. “You really have turned over a new leaf.”
“Oh,” Sebastian said, and my stomach plunged. “You don’t know, then?”
“Sebastian,” I warned, looking up at him from under furrowed eyebrows.
“Hedoesn’t,” the man laughed, incredulous, leaning back in his chair. “When were you going to tell them, Charlie? Before or after the sale? The proposal?” He laughed again. “Thewedding?”
“The wedding–” James started, staring between Sebastian and I as all the warmth drained from me. “Seb, what are you talking about?”
“Sebastian,” I said again. “Don’t.”
“Jesus, Charlie. I’m sure you think you’re being quite the gentleman, but she’s not here, she doesn’t have to know.” The words were casual, but his eyes on mine were serious. “Just between the men, right?”
And I realized that Samantha…
Samantha wasright.
Because of course she was. She wasSamantha fucking Scott.
This was who Sebastian was. She had known, and she’d told me. She’d shown me, with every flinch, with every shuttered look, who he was. If she was desperately lonely, it was because of him.
